Liana Swing

Today I was finally able to enjoy the weather. No rain! It was cool enough that while we hiked it was perfect, but otherwise on the chilly side. The sunshine, when it was around, felt wonderful. We did the Puma plot. I really like that plot and think it is a very pleasant area of the forest. We were able to check all of our plants but one which had been smashed by a tree fall. That happens more than I thought it would. While going down a hill we found some of the roots or "vines" that we had used as a swing on another trail and T decided that he would try to do the same here. It didn't work. He fell, but only a like a foot. I then decided to try. So we trimmed some other lianas and I pulled hard testing and then went for it. I was successful. Z then felt confident enough to try the group that I used. He went before I was ready with my camera or I would have caught him breaking the vines and crashing. He was totally okay. T then decided he needed to try again, but have more vines this time. His first swing was successful, but on the second swing the vines broke when he was at the peak. His descent was surprisingly gradual and very slow. T didn't get hurt at all. At that point we decided that we should get back to work. We finished the trail and headed back. Before leaving the plot we saw a true liana, nice and thick, it was the perfect trapeze swing shape. After talking a little bit I decided that I was going to climb on it. So I used my sweet climbing skills and upper body strength and I got on it. The liana was about four feet off the ground.  It was a lot of fun being silly. Yes, I did hang from my knees upside down from the liana. It was great. We tried to convince Zach that he should have a turn but he was to worried that it would break like the other ones. I knew the liana wouldn't break. The liana was as think, or a little thicker, than my arm; it was not going to break. After a few minutes I got off and we went back to the station. I am happy to say that we finished right at dinner time. After dinner most of the researchers decided to watch Pitch Perfect. All in all a pretty good day.